Peter Lerner, the spokesman for the Israeli military, tells Al Jazeera that at least 40,000 reserve troops have been recruited, as the Israeli army was looking to increase the number of troops to join the standing military.

He said that their "operation" was two-fold: to attack and disable Hamas, and to "take out the rocket capabilities" as much as possible.

"We are putting the pressure up."

by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 1:23:55 PM

Hanan Ashrawi from the Palestine Liberation Organisation, tells Al Jazeera that it's not surprising that Israel's offensive on Gaza will provoke a response.

"The PLO are not mediators, we are Palestinian... everybody is now getting targeted. Israel is using any pretext to terrorise the Palestinian people."

She said that the Palestinians have no means of self defence.

"In many ways we know that they want to keep Palestinians divided and weak in the face of a relentless Israeli assault."

by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 1:24:33 PM

Gaza death toll (revised): At least eleven people killed and many more injured in Israel's "Operation Protective Edge".

The Arab League has called for the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to discuss the deadly Israeli air campaign against Gaza, Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said.

An official from the pan-Arab bloc told AFP news agency that Arabi had "instructed the Arab League's UN representative to initiate urgent consultations within the Arab group calling for an emergency security meeting of the Security Council."

Arabi said he had been "in touch with president Abbas to follow the latest developments in the Gaza Strip" while also continuing "consultations with Arab foreign ministers on this subject."

He denounced the "dangerous Israeli escalation" and warned against its humanitarian consequences in Gaza.

"The continued attacks on Palestinian civilians by Israel is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Convention and international resolutions on occupied Palestine," said the Arab League chief.

by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 2:47:52 PM

Latest death toll: 12 total in airstrikes.

One Qassam member in Nuseirat, central Gaza strip - jet airstrike

Three Qassam members travelling in car in Gaza City (including Qassam commander Mohammed Shaaban) killed in drone strike.

Seven civilians at a family home in Khan Younis.

by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 2:54:55 PM

Smoke and flames are seen following an Israeli air strike in Rafah in Gaza Strip

[Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa]

by Rabii.Kalboussi7/8/2014 2:58:01 PM

At least 1,500 troops have already been deployed around the perimeter of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian relatives of Mohammed Shaaban, a commander in the Hamas' armed wing, mourn during his funeral in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip

[Reuters/Mohammed Salem]

[Reuters/Mohammed Salem]

[Reuters/Mohammed Salem]

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by Rabii.Kalboussi edited by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 3:06:58 PM

An Israeli Apache helicopter shoots a missile over the Gaza Strip.

[AFP/Jack Guez]

by Rabii.Kalboussi7/8/2014 3:11:47 PM

Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Gaza said that keeping track about the number of airstrikes has become increasingly difficult.

"There is an extreme concern and fear here among people in Gaza, especially with the concern of a 'ground invasion', which hasn't happened since 2008-2009. The people have no place to go, and they don't control their borders, and reside in a densely populated city."

She added that civilians pay a high price in Gaza because Israel claims that the rocket fire come from residential areas. Over 80 people we injured today - with many of them being fighters but also a number of civilians.

by Rahul Radhakrishnan7/8/2014 3:12:04 PM

Palestinians try to salvage what they can of their belongings from the rubble of a house destroyed by an overnight Israeli airstrike in Gaza City

[Khalil Hamra/AP]

by Rabii.Kalboussi7/8/2014 3:14:02 PM

As Israel continues to pound Gaza with air strikes - carrying out 50 bombings overnight and more throughout the day on Tuesday - Medics have expressed concern about the capacity of the territory's hospitals to attend to the injured.

As of early evening on Tuesday, at least 12 Palestinians had been killed in the Israeli bombardment. More than 80 others were wounded, according to a Gaza health ministry spokesperson, including more than 25 that had serious injuries.